Reece Bayliss scored on his home debut but could not save Wantage Town from a narrow 2-1 defeat at home to midtable side Mangotsfield in Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West on Saturday.

The result leaves Daniel Barry’s side anxiously looking over their shoulders near the bottom of the table.

The hosts struggled with the Mangotsfield formation in the first half and were lucky to be only 1-0 down at half-time.

The goal was scored by Neil Arndale from the penalty spot ten minutes before the interval.

Wantage responded well in the second half and equalised in the 48th minute when Bayliss fired home from 12 yards following good play by Nick Thorne.

There was a touch of good fortune about the Somerset side’s winner in the 67th minute, Karim Rendall’s freekick taking a deflection before entering the net.

Wantage were unable to find a second leveller and prevent in-form Mangotsfield recording their fourth successive league victory.

After the game, Barry said: “It’s two weeks in a row we have been very disappointed at not getting something from the game.

“I feel that’s down to us being naïve at times. Missing key experienced players results in us lacking a cool head to calm the game down.”

Wantage Tn: Tucker, Carbon, I Lovegrove (Hulbert-Thomas), Cattell, Warne, Jones, Johns (Glover), Barder (Reid), Thorne, Whitehead, Bayliss. Sub not used: Clark.

Attendance: 63.